Rear view mirror assembly with electrical sub assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention is related to a rear view mirror assembly that includes at least one electrical device as a light source with adapted connectors to be assembled in an easy way. The invention is related to an electrical device as a lighting mean in a rear view mirror that has a connector adapted to be self centric connected to the counterpart during assembling.

The invention is based on a priority patent application EP 09177256.6 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is related to a rear view mirror assembly that includes at least one electrical device, for example a light source with adapted connectors to be assembled in an easy way.

More especially the invention is related to an electrical device as a lighting mean in a rear view mirror that has a connector adapted to be self centric connected to the counterpart during assembling.

2. Description of the Related Art

In automotive industries the cost pressure is high. Also for the supplier of rear view mirrors there is a need to decrease costs and to ease assembly processes. The designs of the rear view mirror often comprises electrical devices as lighting means as turn signal indicators, security lights, day running lights, hazard alert indicators and further illumination means that must be connected electrically to the rear view mirror harness. Despite the lighting means also other electrical devices as IR illumination for sensors, day running light, sensors, antennas, cameras, actuators must be installed and electrically connected to the vehicle electrical system. The location of the different electrical devices does often not allow an easy access and therefore an easy mounting of connectors.

It is clear that for quality reasons the electrical connection must be reliable and easy to handle during production.

EP0873910 discloses devices that facilitate rapid and low cost assembly of parts. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, a base member, light socket and connector are shown having a pair of electrically conductive pins extending outwardly there from. Mirror housing is also modified by replacing opening with a moulded-in cavity in which a pair of spaced openings is provided positioned so as to receive pins when decorative member is assembled thereto. Thus, with this embodiment the assembler need not first interconnect the two electrical connectors but rather needs merely install the decorative cover member during which pins will be received within openings thereby electrically connecting light assembly to the existing vehicle turn signal system.

The solution according prior art need a precise allocation of opening and pins.

The invention is to ease the connections between parts of a mirror and to provide a simple assembly process for the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is show in the figures and described in the description as follows. As an example of an electrical device a turn signal indicator is shown in the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a scheme of a turn signal indictor and a mirror support according the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the connection direction.

FIG. 3 shows a turn s signal indicator module.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section along B-B.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section along E-E.

FIG. 6 shows a top view on mirror support along C-C.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section along D-D.

A rear view mirror comprises several parts, the mirror base that is fixed to the vehicle and the mirror head that has opening to host a mirror glass and electrical devices as light or sensors etc. The mirror head consists of a mirror support or backing plate that is pivotable connected to the mirror base. The housing covers can be a one cover solution of several parts are used to cover base and mirror support. In some designs a bezel surrounds the mirror glass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 the assembly scheme and the inventive connector is described. A turn signal indicator module 1 is provided that comprises a backside housing which can host a reflector mean and light sources, at least a single bulb or LED.

The turn signal indicator 1 comprises a printed circuit board 5 that is equipped with electronic elements to drive the light sources and the means to connect the printed circuit board to the turn signal indicators module. In the embodiment the printed circuit board is equipped with a LED so that the light shines along a light guide that is covering the housing of the turn signal indicators. The light guiding lens is not shown in this figure.

For the invention the details of the turns signal indicator are not important, the limitation is that the turn signal indicator is adapted to be connected with the inventive solution to the electrical connection.

The turn signal indicator is electrically connected to a mirror support 2. The mirror support is bearing the glass actuator and the mirror glass on one side. On the other side—as visible in the drawing—the mirror support has means 3 to install a connector 4. The mirror support 2 has an opening 11 for a power fold device and is pivotably installed at the mirror base and the vehicle, which is not shown in the figure. The female connector 4 is clipped between two attachments 3 that are integrated into the mirror support structure to guide and to hold the connector 4.

FIG. 2 shows the direction in which the two main devices, the turn signal indicator 1 and the mirror support 2, are electrically connected. The left part of the turn signal indicator with the printed circuit board and the means to connect is connected with the female connector 4.

In the assembly process the turn signal indicator is implemented into the mirror housing or backside cover. The turns signal indicator is either mounted reversible by using of mounting posts and screws or snap fit connectors or none reversible connected by welding the edges with the edges of the housing.

During assembly process the connector 4 is first clipped into the attachments 3 to fix the female part of the connector at the mirror support. Than the mirror housing together with the turn signal indicator is mounted by directing the male connector part in form of connector pins of the printed circuit board into the female connector part.

FIG. 3 shows a frontal view onto the turn signal indicator 1 which is installed on the mirror support 2. The axis A, B and C defines further cross sections.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section along the axis B-B of FIG. 3. The mirror support 2 has integrated attachments 3 that guide the connector 4. The attachments have legs related to the dimension of the connector 4. The legs end up into hooks 12 that form a snap fit connection between the connector 4 and the mirror support. For the legs of the attachment 3 are formed from plastic material they are flexible to move when the connector is pressed in. The turn signal indicator housing 1 is shown in this figure adjacent to the mirror support.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section along the axis E-E of FIG. 4. The turn signal indicator housing 1 shows electrical pins 6 that are formed to pass through the housing. The turn signal indicator housing forms a conical structure 14 that surrounds the electrical pins 6. On the side the housing adjacent to the printed circuit board 5 forms one face 14 a of the conical structure and a leg 14 b forms the outer face of the conical structure. The conical structure 14 has an angled opening of around 70°+/−3°. This conical structure works as a guiding, self centric structure to ease the connection between pins and connector.

The electrical pins are—not visible in this cross section—connected to the printed circuit board 5 on which the LED 13 is mounted.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of the mirror support with the turn signal indicator housing 1 on top.

FIG. 7 is a cross section along D-D of FIG. 6. The support 2 shows a recess 9 that fits to a lug 8 of the connector 4. The recess is integrally formed at the backside 16 of the opening form between the attachments 3 for the connector 4. The connector is moved upwards towards the mirror support level 15 during assembly process.

The connector is shifted in direction of the support level 15 up to a position the lug 8 snaps into the recess 9 in the backside of the mirror support.

The invention as described above is also useful if the electrical device is connected to another mounting support.

It is possible to use the integrated attachment means of the invention with a mounting support that is a cover element of the rear view mirror assembly, Also base covers mirror base, or mirror bezels can be used as mounting support device with integrated attachment for a connector. During assembly the electrical device as a sensor device is connected to the connector that is fixed in the mirror bezel.

The combination of mounting support devices and electrical devices are high. It is only important that the electrical device together with the mounting support device forms an electrical and mechanical guided subassembly. The invention allows the preparation of the electrical connection and a first mechanical connection between the devices. Mechanically the electrical device is fixed with pins in a connector that is guided in a conical structure. This mechanical guide is not very stable but a first fixation before the subassembly is assembled to the other parts of the rear view mirror.

Legend

-   1 Turn Signal Indicator -   2 Mirror Support -   3 Attachment -   4 Connector female -   5 PCB -   6 Connector Pins -   7 Opening -   8 Lug -   9 Recess -   10 Housing cover -   11 Opening power fold -   12 Hooks -   13 LED -   14 Conical structure -   15 Mounting Support level -   16 Backside of mounting support 

1. Rear view mirror assembly with at least a mirror support pivotable connected to a mirror base, at least one cover element and/or bezel and at least one electrical device that must be contacted to a electrical source out of the group of turn signal indicator, alert indicator, security light, IR illumination for sensors, day running light, sensors, antennas, cameras, actuators, wherein the electrical device and a mounting support, that is out of a group of mirror support, base cover or other mirror cover elements, mirror base, mirror bezel, forms a sub assembly for electrical contact, wherein the housing of electrical device has a conical structure surrounding connector pins and that the mounting support forms integrally an attachment forming guiding arms in which a female connector is fixed.
 2. Rear view mirror assembly according claim 1 characterized in that the arms of the mounting support attachment have hooks formed in the inner surface of the arms to hold the female connector.
 3. Rear view mirror assembly according claim 1 characterized in that the mounting support attachment has at least one recess to fix the female connector.
 4. Rear view mirror assembly according claim 3 characterized in that the at least one recess fits to a lug of the female connector.
 5. Rear view mirror assembly according claim 1 characterized in that the electrical device has parallel pins that are installed through the electrical device housing material.
 6. Rear view mirror assembly according claim 5 characterized in that the parallel pins of the electrical device are connected to a printed circuit board installed in the device.
 7. Rear view mirror assembly according claim 1 characterized in that the electrical device's conical structure forms a conical opening with an angle of 70°+/−3°.
 8. Assembly process for a rear view mirror with at least a mirror support pivotable connected to a mirror base, at least one cover element and/or bezel and at least one electrical device that must be contacted to a electrical source out of the group of turn signal indicator, alert indicator, security light, IR illumination for sensors, day running light, sensors, antennas, cameras, actuators, wherein the electrical device and a mounting support, that is out of a group of mirror support, base cover or other mirror cover elements, mirror base, mirror bezel, forms a sub assembly for electrical contact, characterized in that the housing of electrical device has a conical structure surrounding connector pins and that the mounting support forms integrally an attachment forming guiding arms in which a female connector is fixed with the steps of: mounting a connector to a mounting support; and connecting an electrical device to the fixed connector. 